FCT Primary School Teachers Set to End Strike After Wike Steps In

After months of stalled learning across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), primary school teachers may soon return to the classrooms, following a major breakthrough in negotiations led by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had been on strike since March 2025, demanding the full implementation of the minimum wage, several pending allowances, and agreed entitlements dating back to 2022. The industrial action brought public primary education in the capital to a halt, leaving thousands of pupils out of school.

On Tuesday, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, confirmed that an agreement was reached during a closed-door meeting involving the NUT, chairmen of the area councils, FCT officials, National Assembly members, and representatives from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The major resolution from the meeting was the decision to withhold 10 percent of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the area councils for the past six months. This fund will now be redirected to settle 70 percent of the outstanding minimum wage owed to the teachers. While the payment may not cover all debts, government officials say it marks a strong move toward ending the long-running dispute.

To further resolve outstanding issues, the minister directed the creation of a special committee, comprising members from the NUT, FCT Administration, area councils, and student representatives. The committee is expected to submit its final report in two weeks, outlining how the remaining issues will be permanently resolved.

The chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abubakar Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the area council leaders, said the decision to forfeit six months of their revenue was tough but necessary. He urged the NUT to consider the impact of the strike on children and call it off without delay. According to him, although Minister Wike had no legal authority to redirect the IGR, all the council chairmen voluntarily agreed to the move in the interest of peace and progress.

Abdullahi expressed hope that teachers would return to classrooms before the end of the week, allowing pupils to resume academic activities. He acknowledged the importance of Minister Wike’s role and praised him for using dialogue and compromise to address the crisis.

National President of NANS, Olushola Oladoja, also welcomed the resolution, saying students had suffered long enough. He noted that the bold decision to use council revenue for the teachers’ pay was a rare show of leadership, especially as it could have sparked legal opposition from the councils.

For their part, the teachers, through NUT Chairman Mohammed Shafa, acknowledged the efforts and outcomes of the meeting. However, Shafa said a final decision on calling off the strike would be made after a meeting of the union’s State Executive Council.

The strike, which began in March, was triggered by the failure to implement the national minimum wage, delays in salary increases of 25 and 35 percent, and the non-payment of a 40 percent peculiar allowance. The union also demanded payment of the ₦35,000 wage award and enforcement of a long-agreed template on outstanding entitlements.

Now, with a partial financial settlement on the table and a promise of further negotiations, parents, teachers, and students alike are looking forward to a quick end to the strike. All eyes are now on the NUT’s next move, which will likely determine whether schools reopen this week.